Association of Convenience Stores (ACS), an England-based company that represents over 33,500 convenience stores, has asked government, local authorities, non-government organizations and industry to focus on partnership for future alcohol strategy.
The company also asked government to continue to work with drinks and retail industries to take forward alcohol strategy, which includes introduction of minimum unit pricing of alcohol and cumulative impact policies.
ACS public affairs director Shane Brennan at the Future of Alcohol Policy conference said everything they have achieved in recent years, which includes dramatic reductions in underage and binge drinking, has been achieved through effective partnership.
"This has been achieved at the national level through pioneering schemes such as Challenge 25 and the Responsibility Deal and at the local level through initiatives such as Community Alcohol Partnerships," Brennan added.
"Therefore the future has to be about cementing those partnerships and seeking common solutions to local problems.
"This should be our focus and we must resist the temptation to impose yet more regulations or to impose top down solutions that rarely achieve the engagement necessary to make a real difference."
